Marquette foils Menominee's clock-eating strategy for GNC victory

February 2, 2013

The Maroons silenced the Redmen's powerful inside game, but Marquette went outside for a 36-19 Great Northern Conference boys basketball victory.

The Redmen (11-1) improved their GNC record to 5-0, while the Maroons (5-7) slip to 2-3 in league play.

Running time off the clock on every possession, Menominee trailed 10-6 lead late in the first half when the Redmen ambushed the slow-down tactics with outside lasers.

Larry Burnette jacked in a pair of triples and Brad Brow knocked down a shot from the arc to propel Marquette to a 16-6 halftime lead.

"I was telling my team that what makes a team great is guys who step up," Marquette coach Brad Nelson said. " Larry and Brad made big plays when we needed them tonight."

With the Maroons limiting the Redmen's inside duo of A.J. Grazulis (6-7) and Mark Pap (6-6) to 11 points, Marquette countered with 15 points from the 3-point arc. Barrette splashed in three shots from the arc and Brow had a pair.

A Maroon team that has relied on its outside shooting sank just one of 13 chances from the 3-point line while connecting on just 8 of 35 shots.

"We did everything we wanted to do tonight except we couldn't shoot the ball in the ocean," Menominee coach Pete Pericolosi said.

"You have to give Marquette credit for some of that. We didn't come off picks very well and Marquette ran through our picks."

Menominee was coming off a two-week layoff and had just one practice in the last six days.

Andy Nyquist sank a pair of free throws and Burnette drained another 3-pointer to pump the margin to 25-9 early in the third quarter.

Menominee went nine minutes without a field goal until Jared Rivard's jumper with 5:06 left in the third period.

The Maroons staged a brief flurry to chip the deficit to 31-18 on baskets by Jared Rivard and Jeremy Rivard with 5:02 left in the game.

The Redmen then went to their inside game for point-bank shots from Grazulis and Pap to hike the margin to 36-18.

Menominee's guards were 3 for 21.

"We tried to get their guards to go to the rim," Nelson said. "A.J. and Mark could clean up if they missed. We know they have some good outside shooters."

Pap speared 10 rebounds to lead Marquette to a 27-14 command of the boards.

The Redmen were efficient in their limited possessions, sinking 13 of 28 shots, including 5 of 12 three-pointers.

Burnette led Marquette with 13 points.

Landen Maccoux led the Maroons with eight points and Jared Rivard had six rebounds.

"You have to give our kids inside a lot of credit," Pericolosi said. "They did a great job. Pap and Grazulis scored 33 against us the last time."